HBO’s much awaited limited series ‘The Sympathizer’ dropped its first episode this morning India time. The series is streaming on Jio Cinema in India. The series is the official adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel of the same name, published in 2015.
The Sympathizer is the work of revered auteur Park Chan-wook, creator of prominent movies such as The Handmaiden, and the Vengeance Trilogy, comprising movies ‘Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance’, ‘Oldboy’ and ‘Lady Vengeance’. Don McKellar is the co-creator of The Sympathizer.
The narrative of The Sympathizer looks at the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective. Right at the start of the series, we learn that for the world it is the Vietnam War, but for the Vietnamese, it is the American War. The story is narrated by the character known only as the Captain (Hoa Xuande, of Cowboy Bebop fame).
The Captain is a North Vietnamese spy, who has embedded himself into the South Vietnam army and into the good books of the General (Toan Le). His CIA handler goes by the name Claude (Robert Downey Jr.). Also working alongside The Captain is Man (Duy Nguyễn), dentist by profession but fellow revolutionary by loyalty.
The first episode of The Sympathizer is everything you would expect from the stellar hand of Park Chan-wook. The production design is superlative and solid. Wry humour peppers the storytelling, adding a touch of dark whimsy to the story. Meticulous attention to detail and impressive set designs transport the viewer to the war-torn Vietnam of the seventies.
The most delightful element of the filmmaking of The Sympathizer are the neat camera tricks, aided by precise editing – a classic Park Chan-wook touch. The cinematography is mesmerising, with inventive use of mirrors and light to cast a spell on the viewer. Students of filmmaking will have a lot to learn from just the first episode of The Sympathizer.
The story itself is complex, gripping and nuanced. Performances are excellent, especially a sleek, accomplished one from Hoa Xuande. The scene at the movie theater, especially, is riveting. Robert Downey Jr. is suitably over-the-top and caricaturish, to lend credence to his role of the opportunistic white supremacist.
Even though it’s just the first episode yet, The Sympathizer reels you in and keeps you hooked with its masterful storytelling. It delivers a nuanced exploration of identity and loyalty, amidst the complexities of the Vietnam War.
Catch the first episode of The Sympathizer on Jio Cinema. Subsequent episodes of the 7-episode series will stream every Monday morning on Jio Cinema